[Roadrunner383]

I had just started dating a very cute blond girl in the late ‘70s. Because of ‘Smokey and The Bandit’, CB radios were all the rage. I mentioned that I had owned a CB radio base station about 10 years back. I also said I though Ham Radio was interesting and I might get my Ham license.

She got this horrified look on her face and said “You can’t!, my dad and all my uncles own Ham radios, and they’re all a bunch of nerds!” At that point she didn’t know me very well, because I resembled that remark.

[Nervous Tick]

>> At that point she didn’t know me very well, because I resembled that remark.

Tired old joke:
Q: What do you call a nerd five years after graduation?
A: “Boss”

[Myrddin]

I went after my ham license first, then inside of 3 weeks took the FCC 2nd class radiotelephone license. A couple months later, I upgraded to FCC 1st class radiotelephone license with a SHIP's radar endorsement. The commercial licenses paved the way to working in the San Diego commercial fishing fleet as well as large ships, base stations and even a research sub at Ballast Point. Field Service Engineer at Marine Electric Company. I eventually left that work for better pay at Pacific Telephone.

I reconnected with the ham community when I was in grad school at San Diego State...Microbiology Department. Nerds? 😊